Home News Kevin Magnussen runs the show in opening Barcelona practice

Kevin Magnussen runs the show in opening Barcelona practice

by Valentin Khorounzhiy
Photo: Eric Vargiolu / DPPI

Photo: Eric Vargiolu / DPPI

Formula Renault 3.5 championship leader Kevin Magnussen got off to a good start in the season finale at Circuit de Catalunya as he dominantly topped the first practice session.

The test saw a number of lead changes, with Magnussen battling title rival Stoffel Vandoorne for the lead in the opening stages. At halfway through, it was Arthur Pic who reigned supreme, however, as times began dropping, the initiative came back to Magnussen.

With 4 minutes remaining, the Dane put almost a second on his closest session rivals and wound up finishing first by 0.668s. ISR man Sergey Sirotkin put in a late effort to take second, while Magnussen’s DAMS teammate Norman Nato ended the run in third.

Vandoorne had to settle for fourth, leading Will Stevens (who made it into the top five after early session woes), Marco Sorensen and Pic.

Andre Negrao took eighth, leading the Pons duo of Nikolay Martsenko and Zoel Amberg.

Session results
Pos. Driver Team Time Gap Laps
1 Kevin Magnussen DAMS 1:30.730 22
2 Sergey Sirotkin ISR 1:31.398 +0.668 20
3 Norman Nato DAMS 1:31.621 +0.891 22
4 Stoffel Vandoorne Fortec Motorsports 1:31.626 +0.896 25
5 Will Stevens P1 by Strakka Racing 1:31.661 +0.931 14
6 Marco Sorensen Lotus 1:31.684 +0.954 23
7 Arthur Pic AV Formula 1:31.691 +0.961 21
8 Andre Negrao International Draco Racing 1:31.708 +0.978 23
9 Nikolay Martsenko Pons Racing 1:31.928 +1.198 20
10 Zoel Amberg Pons Racing 1:31.933 +1.203 23
11 Nigel Melker Tech 1 Racing 1:31.951 +1.221 24
12 Antonio Felix da Costa Arden Caterham 1:31.968 +1.238 21
13 Mikhail Aleshin Tech 1 Racing 1:32.059 +1.329 21
14 Pietro Fantin Arden Caterham 1:32.153 +1.423 24
15 Marlon Stockinger Lotus 1:32.186 +1.456 24
16 Carlos Huertas Carlin 1:32.206 +1.476 23
17 Matias Laine P1 by Strakka Racing 1:32.250 +1.520 22
18 Carlos Sainz, Jr. Zeta Corse 1:32.303 +1.573 23
19 Oliver Webb Fortec Motorsports 1:32.322 +1.592 24
20 Nico Muller International Draco Racing 1:32.340 +1.610 24
21 Christopher Zanella ISR 1:32.405 +1.675 21
22 William Buller Zeta Corse 1:32.610 +1.880 22
23 Lucas Foresti SMP Racing by Comtec 1:32.635 +1.905 24
24 Yann Cunha AV Formula 1:33.406 +2.676 25
25 Daniil Move SMP Racing by Comtec 1:33.554 +2.824 18
DNP Jazeman Jaafar Carlin

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